International
China confirms “provisional agreement” with the Philippines to “de-escalate” maritime tensions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China confirmed on Monday that it reached a “provisional agreement” with the Philippines to “de-escalate” the tensions around an atoll in the South China Sea that both countries claim and where violent ship collisions have occurred in recent months.
According to a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, both parties agreed to “jointly manage the differences on maritime issues and work for de-escalation” in this region, after reaching an understanding around the “humanitarian resupply of life supplies” of the Philippine contingent located in the Second Thomas atoll.
The agreement was reached after a meeting held by representatives of both countries on July 2, which led to more consultations and the establishment of a direct line of communication between the Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
One of the main points of friction between the two parties is related to the old Philippine ship Sierra Madre, straned with a military garrison in the Second Thomas since 1999 to claim the sovereignty of the atoll.
“We continue to demand that the Philippines tow the ship (Sierra Madre) and restore the state of Ren’ai Jiao (Second Thomas) from not housing personnel or facilities,” the Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesman said in a statement published in the early hours of Monday.
If the Philippines needs to send life supplies to the ship’s personnel, China is willing to allow it with a “humanitarian spirit,” as long as Manila informs Beijing in advance and after an “on-site verification” has been carried out, according to the official text.
In the event that the Philippines sends “a large amount” of construction materials to the warship, or tries to build fixed facilities or a permanent post, “China will not accept it at all and will resolutely stop it in accordance with the law,” stressed the Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesman.
“China has sovereignty over Ren’ai Jiao and the rest of the Nansha Qundao (Spratly islands), as well as its adjacent waters,” the spokesman said.
The Philippines and China maintain a growing sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea, where in recent months clashes between ships from both countries have multiplied.
In addition to the Second Thomas atoll, Manila and Beijing are disputed for sovereignty over the Scarborough reef, near the Philippine island of Luzon, and several islands of the Spratly archipelago, where Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also hold claims.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have increased since Marcos Jr. came to power in 2022, who has strengthened his military alliance with the United States and expanded access to its bases to US troops, including some of strategic access to the China Sea or the self-governed island of Taiwan.
International
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
International
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
International
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
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